CHAMPIONING CONTINENTAL PHILOSOPHY - QUINE'S COPY

FINDLAY, J.N.

Language, Mind and Value. Philosophical Essays.

London, George Allen & Unwin Ltd., (1963). 8vo. Orig. full red cloth w. gilt lettering to spine. Minor bumping to capitals. Orig. blue dust-jacket in excellent coondition, not price-clipped. 259, (1) pp. W. the publishing slip statin: "With the Compliments of George Allen & Unwin, Publication date 21st March."

The first edition of Findlay's important collection of essays on language, mind, value, God, mathematics etc, from the library of W.O.Van Quine, with his marginal annotation.

John Niemeyer Findlay (1903-1987) was an important South African philosopher, who became professor of philosophy at several universities, including Yale, Boston and King's College in London. He plays a dominant role in the Anglo-American focus on continental philosophy and invokes a shift from the analytic tradition towards the continental classics of philosophy. At philosophical institutes that were traditionally governed by the analytic tradition in the 19th century with a focus on positivism, linguistics, philosophy of language and mind etc., Findlay stands out by reviving Hegelianism, championing phenomenology and putting focus on Idealism and classical authors. Initially inspired by Wittgenstein, he turns out a n outspoken critic of this main inspiration of analytic philosophy and comes to severely criticize him and his followers.

"Philosophical themes as diverse as Language, Mathematics, Value, Mind and God are among the topics discussed in this book. Some of the papers which have appeared previously in the form of articles have had a considerable influence, particularly those on Time, on Cambridge Philosophy, on Goedelian Sentences, on Morality by Convention and on the Non-existence of God. In general they represent a gradual move from a position where the influence of Wittgenstein is paramount, to a position where there is considerable criticism of linguistic philosophy and a growing interest in the approaches of Hegel and the phenomenologists. The collection includes papers on Hegel and on G.E. Moore which have not been previously published." (Inner front flap).

An excellent association-copy from the library of one of the most important American and analytical philosophers of the 20th century. It is quite interesting to notice that Quine, who has contributed immensely to the fields of analytic philosophy and philosophical logic, has kapt this book, which advocates a thoroughly different approach to philosophy and claims that the importance of philosophy lies in another field than his, in his library. On page 158 Quine has written: "He should see W. ..(?)".

Order-nr.: 36327